Main navigation

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Review

I received this product for free as part of an Influenster campaign. I was excited to try it out as I don’t have much experience with Clarins’ skincare. With the exception of a couple products I tend to think Clarins is aimed at an older demographic and their packaging isn’t particularly appealing to me.

Re: My skin concerns, I’m quite oily on the cheeks/nose but I have a dry forehead, which can be extremely visible after I apply makeup. I applied this cream once a day after I showered, and that was enough to prevent visible dryness and keep my skin hydrated for the day.

This cream is supposed to be ‘silky,’ but that’s not how I would describe it. It was quite thick and had a little bit of a gel-like consistency, but it was extremely lightweight. Even though it was extremely thick and hydrating, you didn’t need to wait for it to sink in before applying makeup and you didn’t need to worry about it getting on your clothing.

However, if you have any sensitivity or an aversion towards fragrance you may not like this product. You’ll need to give this one a whiff in person to see if it’s too strong for you. I personally find the scent nice, similar to a spa product, but everyone has their own preferences. I noticed other reviewers mention that it stung their eyes or made them break out, but I had no such similar issues.

With only 5 days of use, I can confidently say that I would repurchase this product. I do still love using the combination of Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil layered over my Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence at night, but this Clarins product would be much easier to carry around, serves as a great base for makeup, and is perfect for a quick skincare fix.

According to Sephora it retails for $46cad and the full size comes in a pot, so you’ll need to use a spatula if hygiene is a concern. Clarins also suggests that you follow it with their Hydra-Essentiel Bi-Phase Serum, and I will definitely be in Sephora this week asking for a sample.

Overall I’d give this cream a 9.5/10 and highly recommend it to everyone and their mom (especially as Mother’s day is coming up).